Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-04-09
A TALK WITH THE PRESIDENT.
Mr.. Cleveland's Health Excellent
His Ambition TO DO Right.
FROM he Ne,o York Rs-ald.

From, tie Neto YORK Rsrald
WASHINGTON, April 4.--Do not waste
any time in worrying about our Demo-
cratic President. He Is all right physi-
cally, mentally and politically, and he
means reform. l have had the pleasure
of a good two hours talk with him, and,
as there was nothing private in what was
said, may as we'll tell what l saw and
heard.
First, as to Mr.. Cleveland's physical
condition. So many stories have been
circulated over the country about an
alarming increase in weight that J. sup.
posed from the amount OF smoke that
there must be some fire somewhere. But
the truth is there is not spark anywhere.
! have seen Mr.. Cleveland on very many
occasions, but | never saw HIM look so
well as he did yesterday. He has lost
rather than gained in flesh.
You are well, Mr, PTesident?" L
asked.
Perfectly" he answered. 81 never
worked harder or ielt better In my life"
"But some of the Republican papers
are very solicitous about your health"
l suggested, land are giving the people
the impression that second term would
\
spOnsibilities of your Office"
There was merry twinkle in his eye as
he replied: "Well, Pm not to be killed
off by any offensive craftsmanship o! that
kind. A9 for second term" and here
he grew very serious, "thaJ is all in the
air, and have nothing to do with 1t. My
time is taken up fully with my present
duties, and propose to do my work in
SUCH way that my successor, whoever
lNn o.,
will be the business Of the party to name
their best man; that is, the man who can
best carry out Democratic principles and
policies, and the man who can best pro-
tect and defend the rights OF the people"
OAK VIEW.
went with the President to Oak View
that and not Red Top is the name by
which his country residence has been
christened. There | had the pleasure of
meeting the lady who has become 50 de-
servedly popular throughout this coun-
try. Mrs. Cleveland Is the ideal wife OF a
truly Democratic President. Gracious
and kindly in manner, she meets the Sc
we're demands made on her time with a
suavity in which there is gehuineness
and an open-hearted frankness which
every one remembers who has ever had
the pleasure OF meeting her. Tall, grace
full, handsome in its best sense, she well
comes the coming and speeds the parting
guest with d kindlineSS wBic5 has moth
ing OF atfectation in il, and with dlgni-
fed womauliness which makes even the
shortest interview pleasurable in
cdent in ones experience.
The Presidents country house is beau
fully situated. Back from the highway
some four or five hundred feet, it has
quite grove OF oak trees in front of it to
the westward. while to the south the Capt.
toll, the Treasury building and the White
House are visible, beyond which in plain
sight the lazy and now muddy Potomac
winds its way through the plain in ser
pentine fashion.
THE LAND QUESTION.
l said to the President:-"Mr. Cleve.
land, there seems to be a good deal OF
interest in this land question just now"
YES" was his quick answer, land
very properly, think. 1t is one Of the
live questions of the day, and certainly
one OF the most important"
"The railroad corporations appear to
be- somewhat greedy" | suggested.
"Well,'' he said, "a railroad corpora
ton should have its legal rights-nO
more, no less. But the people should
have their rights also. | believe in the
people. l believe in the settlers on the
new lands of the far West, and | believe
that corporations which become too
grasplng should be restrained. When
real settler-I don't mean a mere land
Spectator, but farmer who builds his
little house aud sets about the improve
ment OF the acres on which he has settled
when such a man has legally taken
possession Of his 100 acres he ought
to feel that the government Is behind him,
and that if his rights are ever invaded the
government will stand by him and see
that no injustice is done. He has right
to feel that way, and, so far as this ad-
ministratiOn Is concerned, 1t is clearly
and without reservation OF any kind the
friend of the people. While as matter
of course the administration will protect
the lawful rights OF corporation as well
as those of the people, still l think it
should De specially Jealous OF the rights
Of the farmers and the working classes.
This is a government by the people and
for the people, and the people ought to
feel always that its full force
will be exercised to protect them
from any unlawful encroachments. |
will go even further than that, and say
that if by any construction OF the law a
seeming injustice is done to the humblest
farmer in the furthest corner of the land.
then the law ought to be changed, and
changed at once. [ am of toe people.
believe in the people, and l stand by them
and with them-1rst, last and all the
time"
That was nobly said, and l believe it
will be nobly done.
Then we rode back to town and the busy
President went to his work agaln, which
keeps him every day until 1.-THE wee sma
hOuraO